[25] Here's no fantastick Mask, nor dance, But of our Kids, that frisk and prance: Nor wars are seen,

Unless upon the green

Two harmless Lambs are butting one the other; [30] Which done, both bleating run, each to his Mother: And wounds are never found,

[35]

[40]

Save what the Plow-share gives the
ground.

Here are no false entrapping baits,
To hasten too too hasty fates;

Unless it be

The fond Credulity

Of silly fish, which, worldling-like, still look
Upon the Bait, but never on the Hook:
Nor envy, unless among

The Birds, for prize of their sweet song.

Go! let the diving Negro seek

For Gemms hid in some forlorn creek;
We all Pearls scorn,

Save what the dewy morn

[45] Congeals upon each little spire of grass,
Which careless Shepherds beat down as they
And Gold ne're here appears, [pass;
Save what the yellow Ceres bears.

• On this expression, see Halliwell's note on the old 3 Hen. vi. p. 196, and Shakesp. Soc. Papers, i. 39–43. Mr. H. would print it as one word,

"too-too.

"

1

Blest, silent Groves! O may ye [50] For ever Mirth's best Nursery! May pure contents

[55]

be

For ever pitch their Tents

Upon these Downs, these Meads, these Rocks, these Mountains,

[tains!

And peace still slumber by these purling Foun-
Which we may every year

Find when we come a fishing here.

IGNOTO.

[VARIATIONS. 3. In Rel. Wotton. 1654 and 1672, Fly, fly to the Courts.' It is as I have given it in ed. 1651, and in the other copies.-4. 'Fly to find worldly harts'-T.-5. closing' ed. 1672. It is glosing' in eds. 1651 and 1654, and in the other copies.-6. his will'-T.-7. 'Where mirth is but'-T.-9. 'pastime'-T.-10. ' troops'-W. and T.-11. 'serened'—T.-12. 'these cristall'-T.-13. 'azure'-T.-14. 'on our'-W.-22. ' can never'-T.-24. 'which glide'-T.-25.'or dance'-T.-31. 'Nor wounds are ever found'-T.-33. 'false' om. W.-37.' worldlings like'-T.-38. 'and never'-T.-40. 'for price of'-W. 'for praise of'-T.-42. 'hid' om. T.-43. 'We pearles do scorne'-T. -15. 'little' om. T.-48.' But what'-T.-49. 'Sweet silent.... you be'-T. 'you be' also in W.-50. blest nursery'-T.-53. Upon these meads, these downs'-T.-56. Meet when'-W. ed. 3.-' to sojourne here'-T.]

[INSERTED among Sir Walter Raleigh's Poems, in the Lee Priory edition, pp. 6, 7, on the evidence of the signature Ignoto; and with the following remark: "This Dialogue betwixt God and the Soul stands on the authority of Isaac Walton, as Editor of the Reliquia Wottoniana.' Its absurdity needs not be pointed out." (p. 65.) The Oxford editors of Raleigh's Works have rejected it in their reprint of the Lee Priory Collection, and in so doing, they were certainly correct. It is, however, the only instance in which they have exercised this discretion, which might have been employed in other cases also with advantage. The "absurdity" of the piece, great as it is, is not so obvious as its irreverence; and we have no right to talk of Izaak Walton's "authority," unless we can prove that he regarded Ignoto as a signature peculiar to Sir Walter Raleigh.

On a translation of this ode by Ben Jonson (Works, ix.

1

142), Gifford has this note: "This little piece has always been a favourite. Granger, whose knowledge of our old writers did not extend much beyond their portraits, tells us,* that the first English version of this Ode was made by Herrick. The Hesperides were not published till 1648, and to say nothing of the translation before us, a dozen, perhaps, had appeared before that period. I have one by Francis Davison as early as 1608, but neither is this the first :-the matter, however, is of no great moment."]

Soul.

PHILST

Souls
my
light,

eye

beheld no

But what stream'd from thy gracious sight,

To me the Worlds greatest King

Seem'd but some little vulgar thing.

[5] God. Whil'st thou prov'dst pure, and that in thee I could Glass all my Deity;

[10]

How glad did I from Heaven depart,
To find a Lodging in thy Heart!

S. Now Fame and Greatness bear the sway;
('Tis they that hold my Prisons Key :)
For whom my Soul would die, might she
Leave them her Immortality.

Viz. Biogr. Hist. ii. 309, 4th ed. But Gifford states Granger's mistake too strongly; for he speaks very doubtfully about it; and though Herrick's Hesperides were not published till 1648, this Dialogue is expressly said to have been" Translated anno 1627." p. 76. Davison's Translation is in the Poet. Rhaps. p. 94, ed. Nicolas.

[15]

[20]

G. I, and some few pure Souls conspire,

And burn both in a mutual Fire,
For whom I'll die* once more, ere they
Should miss of Heavens eternal day.

S. But, Lord, what if I turn again,

And, with an Adamantine Chain,
Lock me to thee? What if I chase
The World away to give thee place?

G. Then, though these Souls, in whom I joy,
Are Seraphims,-Thou but a toy,
A Foolish Toy,-yet once more I

Would with thee live, and for thee die.

IGNOTO.

• Ild dy'—eds. 1651 and 1654, and Brydges,' I'd die.'-In ed. 1672, the title is, Imitatio Horatiana Odes 9'-&c. In line 21, those souls'— ed. 1651. In line 4, a little'-Brydges.